Writer's Wednesday--Cynthia Sax

Cynthia Sax is back again today with an excerpt from her new Avon Red erotic novella Flashes Of Me. Thank you, Cynthia!

Excerpt From Flashes Of Me

by Cynthia Sax

“I think we’re on the quiet floor,” I observe. No one else is talking.

Camille’s walk is defiant. “We’ll change that.” She pauses in front of the stairwell. “Stairs?”

“Ummm . . .” I thought the human resources lady said something about the stairwells being for emergency use only, but I hadn’t been paying close attention to her monotonous spiel. I was too worried about not being chosen. “Sure.”

We clomp down the stairs, our heels ringing against the concrete. The supremely clean and brightly lit stairwell smells of stinky socks, the stale air making me dizzy. Camille appears unaffected by the stench. As we descend, she sings happily, her song choices being a collection of increasingly vulgar hip-hop songs.

We reach the second floor and Camille tugs on the door. It doesn’t open. She scans her passcard over a small black security box. The light remains red. “Shit on a stick.” She scans it again. Nothing happens. “Unbelievable,” she fumes.

“Let me try.” I wave my passcard over the sensor. The light remains red and Camille curses. Her vocabulary makes me blush and, as I’m a native New Yorker, that’s an impressive feat for her to accomplish. “We’ll try the ground floor,” I suggest.

We trudge down to the ground floor. This door is locked also. Camille tries her passcard. It doesn’t work, prompting another stream of colorful language from my new friend. I try my passcard. It’s as useless as Camille’s.

“We’re stuck.” I state the obvious, slapping the metal door, ignoring Camille’s ranting. “Do you have a phone?”

“Do I look like I have a phone?” Camille pivots in a circle, her arms outstretched. “Besides we’re in freakin’ Fort Knox.” She pats one of the walls. “These babies must be shielded to hell and back.”

“The doors are thick also.” I slap the metal door again, my palm stinging with the impact. “Hey.” I gaze upward. “They have cameras.” I point at the black lens positioned above us. “Security must be monitoring the stairwells.” I wave my arms at the camera. “They’ll send help.”

“If they’re real cameras, they’ll send help,” Camille scoffs. “Didn’t you hear about that girl in Westwood? She was trapped in a stairwell for four whole days. That stairwell had cameras too: fake cameras, installed to discourage thieves. She ate her fingernails down to bloody nubs.”

“Four days,” I repeat, staring up at the camera. It looks real, but I guess that’s the point. Fake-looking cameras wouldn’t fool thieves. “We could pull the fire alarm.”

“If we do that, we’ll get ourselves fired.” Camille shakes her head. “They’ll evacuate the building and we’ll look like dumb asses. Oh.” Her face becomes animated. “I could pick the lock.”

I stare at her. “Can you do that?”

“I’ve picked locks before.” She beams, acting as though this is a skill to be admired. “Let me have a look.” Camille shoves me out of the way. She examines the door, rattling the handle and poking her fingernail into the lock. “Do you have a piece of wire?”

The only piece of wire I have is attached to my bra. “Wait a second.” I unbutton my blazer for the second time today, unhook my bra, and pull it through the armholes. Jiggling the underwire, I try to poke it through the fabric. “I need scissors.”

“If we had scissors, I could jimmy the door open.” Camille eyes the lock. “And our problems would be solved.”

“You scare me.” I bite my bra, tearing the lace, and slide the wire out of the cup. “Here’s your pick, as I believe you criminals call it.”

“A few minor misdemeanors does not make one a criminal,” Camille mutters, taking the wire from me.

“Actually, I believe it does.” I sit down on the steps, the concrete cool under my ass.

“I freed information.” Camille straightens the wire and inserts the end into the lock. “This is America. Freeing information shouldn’t be a misdemeanor.”

“Sure, sure, tell it to the judge.” I watch her work, hoping to learn something.

Minutes pass. I don’t know anything about picking locks, but I do know how to read people and Camille is struggling with her assigned task, her curses growing louder and more colorful.

“Are you sure you’ve done this before?” I lean back on the stairs, spinning my bra around the tip of my right index finger. This is much more interesting than shredding paper.

“I’m not deliberately screwing the pooch,” Camille snaps. “This is a high-end lock.”

“Thank you,” a deep voice drawls, the low tones originating from behind me. “We try our best.” 

BUY FLASHES OF ME FROM AMAZON

Writer's Wednesday--Please Welcome Isobelle Cate

Please welcome Isobelle Cate to the Writer's Wednesday!

Hi NJ!

Thank you for having me guest today.

My name is Isobelle Cate. I’m a contemporary and paranormal romance author.  My paranormal romance series is called the Cynn Cruor Bloodline Series that starts with Rapture at Midnight followed by Forever at Midnight.  I interviewed Rapture at Midnight’s hero, Finn Qualtrough and here’s the transcript of my interview.

                        Interview with Finn Qualtrough      

(Manchester Faesten’s Library/Nerve Centre a little after 6:00pm)

Me: Hello Finn.  Thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Finn: My pleasure, Isobelle. It’s good to have a chance to get to know your readers....more intimately.

I clear my throat before smiling: How is Eirene?

Finn (grins): Still a beautiful distraction. She left with Deanna to set up the network for the Haven Foundation. She’s creating a network between Deanna’s foundation and her own charity, Kinds Come Home.

Me: Eirene is the computer expert of the team?

Finn: Yes she is. Graeme as well, who’s more of our Head of Security. Eirene did what we Cynn Cruor found hard to do. Find Dac Valerian.

Me: Is that how you met?

Finn (chuckling): In a manner of speaking.  I was chasing after several of Dac's followers or transfuges and found her instead. They were running after her after she decked them. (Finn laughs).

Me: And Dac's followers?

Finn grins with satisfaction and pride: Dead. All dead, with Eirene's help.  That woman can really kick and is very handy with a baton and the balisong, the Philippine butterfly knife.

Me: Has the Cynn Cruor has been fighting Dac Valerian for a long time?

Finn: Yes, the former Gnaeus Valerius Dacronius.  He was one of Caesar's greatest generals and wanted recognition for his campaigns but the Cynn Cruor code forbade it.

Me: Why doesn't the Cynn Cruor --

Finn: I know what you're going to ask, Isobelle. Why don't we want to be recognized, for people to know who we are?

I nod.

Finn: Let me ask you...what would happen if the world knew of our existence?  A race of hybrids with vamp, were, and human blood infused with immortality. Stress on immortality.

Me: Uh…people would want to be like you. They won’t age.

Finn: Spot on. And what would happen if Dac and the Scatha Cruor showed themselves for who they were – evil personified?

I nod, exhaling: No innocent will be safe.

Finn:  It’s easier for us to fight a war without people knowing what we are doing. The less people know, the lesser the casualties.

Me: How long will this war last?

Finn (shrugs): As long as it takes.

Me: You live in the edge of day and night. Doesn’t it make you wish that you could walk in the sun?

Finn: Centuries ago, I was able to walk in the sun. My parents couldn’t. They often stayed indoors when the sun was hottest. It was lonely playing by myself around our estate near Pluscarden. I may have taken the sun for granted then.  It didn’t matter to me as long as I had my parents with me. I already knew that I was Cynn Cruor, that I would someday leave my home to train and be a warrior just like my father. (His voice tightens) When I lost my parents during one of the wars with the Scatha Cruor, the sun disappeared from my life. Until Eirene. So you see, whether that fireball in the sky is there or not, I care not. The Cynn Cruor can still walk in the sun but we have to be careful. When the skies are overcast, before Dawn claims the horizon and when Dusk puts it to bed, we can walk. It’s uncomfortable but we can if we must.

Me: Eirene is mortal.

Finn: She is now immortal. As long as I’m alive, so is she.

Me: Has she ever missed the sun? Has she asked you to do so?

Finn (smiles at a memory): Eirene wanted to go back to Platt Field’s Park where we first met.  Winter had arrived and there was frost on the ground. The sun was probably at the ten o’clock.  The sky was clear and blue up to probably Angels 70, altitude 70,000 feet. It was painful, but beautiful.

I gasp: Why did you do that?

Finn: Because I love her.

Me: She’s very lucky to have you.

Eirene: Yes, I am. Hello, Isobelle. (She gives me a hug.) Finn been talking how strong he is?

I laugh: No. We were talking about Dac and how you found him.

Eirene (shakes her head ruefully): The Cynn still can’t get over it. Unfortunately, we’ve lost him again.

Me: Any idea how to find him again?

Finn:  We’re still working on it. In the meantime, I’d like to take my mate for R&R.

I redden: Okaaaayyy. Some other time then. I’ll see myself out.

Finn: Come back anytime you wish, Isobelle. You are always welcome here.

Eirene (grins): I’m echoing that.

Me: Thanks and I will. I’m interviewing all of you remember?

Eirene (with a twinkle in her eye): Who knows?  A Cynn Cruor might fall for you one day.

I stare at her, my mouth agape before I laugh: Only in my dreams.

Eirene (winks): Uh huh.

Me: I’m going! I’m going!

Laughter follows me as I leave the library.

Blurb of Rapture at Midnight:

There is an on-going war between two breeds of immortal warriors who carry human, vampire, and werewolf blood, the Cynn Cruor and the Scatha Cruor. The Cynn Cruor want to live in harmony with the human race. The Scatha Cruor wants to enslave them. Finn Qualtrough, a Cynn Cruor warrior is on a mission to find Dac Valerian, the leader of the Scatha Cruor responsible for the deaths of many, including his parents. When he pursues three Scatha warriors who can lead him to Dac, he happens upon a woman who awakens a desire within Quinn to claim her as his own.

She is the very essence of his immortal life.

Eirene Spence is an insomniac and a computer genius who loves walking in the park at midnight. She stumbles upon the Scatha Cruor and is almost killed until a handsome stranger rescues her. His touch ignites a hunger inside her that only he can satisfy.

He is her soul.

By some twist of fate, one of Eirene’s clients is Dac Valerian. She is able to tell Finn and the rest of the Cynn Cruor where Dac is hiding. Now Dac wants her dead.

Will Finn be able to keep Eirene alive and at the same time fulfill his mission? Will Eirene’s wish to be part of Finn’s life come true knowing that he is destined for someone else?

Buy links for Rapture at Midnight:

Amazon US http://amzn.to/1chcEQo

Amazon UK http://amzn.to/13ZDhsU

Other Books by Isobelle:

Book title: Forever at Midnight

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Roarke catches a glimpse of Deanna in Dac Valerian’s club. He is unable to believe that Deanna is alive when he buried her himself nearly five hundred years before. He searches for her in the streets of Manchester just to prove that he hasn’t lost his mind.  But when Deanna turns up on the street facing the Cynn Cruor’s headquarters, Roarke needs to know why she hid herself from him.

Knowing that her secret can only destroy whatever feelings Roarke has left for her, Deanna remains silent until circumstances force her to reveal everything.

Hearts are broken on both sides but Roarke and Deanna have to work together if they are to find a way of ending Dac and the Scatha Cruor’s power once and for all. Desire rises and passions are rekindled.

Will their pursuit of Dac lead to another chance at happiness?

Or will it forever tear them apart?

Buy Links:

Amazon US http://amzn.to/18Y4QPi

Amazon UK http://amzn.to/1baJ7VI

Other books by Isobelle:

Book title: Love in Her Dreams

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Alec and Tamsyn know they are meant to be together though they have never met. And yet their passion for each other consumes them when they dream.

Alec knows that Tamsyn is the woman for him, but finding her at the moment is an impossibility. Or is it?

After resigning from her job, Tamsyn takes a break in Scotland when she feels the presence of the man who haunts her dreams. He is tangibly near and in Edinburgh. The sex they have in her sleeping moments becomes more real. But how can she find him in the streets of Edinburgh when the only thing she remembers is his touch, his scent, his passion?

Buy Links:

Secret Cravings Publishing:  http://bit.ly/15zacRg

Amazon US:     http://amzn.to/18wDtOY

Amazon UK:    http://amzn.to/15cFFKe

Book Title:  Lakam

Genre: Historical Fiction:

Blurb:

The year is 1607. The Spanish have landed on the shores of the Philippines to pacify the natives, convert them to Christianity, and mine the islands for its gold.

Headstrong and loyal, Lakam, a Babaylan, refuses to submit to Spanish imperial authority and convert to Christianity. With her village destroyed and her people killed, she seeks refuge in the Cave of Rituals in the jungle vastness of the sacred mountains, but she is caught, raped and tortured. On the eve of her execution, she regains her freedom with the help of her jailer, Joaquin Santiago, who refuses to see her killed. Now a remontada (outlaw), Lakam realizes the old ways will cease to exist unless she finds a way for it to continue in the ruined ashes of the world she knows.

Buy links:

Amazon US http://amzn.to/1dUfj19

Amazon UK http://amzn.to/1dhi0fy

Amazon AU http://bit.ly/1jbCJUq

About Isobelle:

Isobelle Cate is a woman who wears different masks. Mother-writer, wife-professional, scholar-novelist. Currently living in Manchester, she has been drawn to the little known, the secret stories, about the people and the nations: the English, the Irish, the Scots, the Welsh, and those who are now part of these nations whatever their origins. Her vision and passion are fuelled by her interest and background in history and paradoxically, shaped by growing up in a clan steeped in lore, loyalty, and legend.

Isobelle is intrigued by forces that simmer beneath the surface of these cultures, the hidden passions, unsaid desires, and yearnings unfulfilled.

Follow Isobelle:

Blog: http://isobellecate.beaucoupllc.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorIsobelleCate?ref=hl#

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/author/isobellecate

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isobelle_Cate

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191925.Isobelle_Cate

Shelley Munro stops by for Writer's Wednesday

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Shelley Munro to the blog!

I’ve known I was visiting NJ for a while, but for some reason I couldn’t decide on a topic for my blog post. Of course I could have written about an element from my recent contemporary release, Past Regrets (Samhain Publishing) or about Stoned (Ellora’s Cave), the book about statues and curses that came out on Friday.

 

 PAST REGRETS by SHELLEY MUNRO

No, I thought, let’s go back to basics.

So that’s what I’m going to do.

Before I even thought about becoming a writer, I was an enthusiastic reader. My parents were both keen readers, and they started me and my brother and sister on the same path.

Reading helps me relax. It allows me to travel to new worlds and experience things that might be outside my comfort in real life. Reading is a way to research and learn the things I need to know in order to write my own books. When I read books by other authors I’m inspired to improve my own writing. I sometimes receive flashes of ideas for future plots, and books themselves are like textbooks for the writer. I absorb things like pace, characterization and plotting every time I open a book. When I read a new release, I get a hint of what is popular with readers and this might change how I approach the current book I’m working on. And lastly, reading entertains me.

People who say they never read confound me. I can’t imagine my world without a book. It would be an empty place indeed.

So what am I reading at the moment?

I’ve just finished reading To Command and Collar by Cherise Sinclair. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Cherise’s writing, she writes contemporary erotic BDSM and has several series. This book is part of the Masters of Shadowlands series. It’s possible to read this book without knowledge of the other books, but several of the characters make guest appearances in more than one book, and I’d recommend beginning at the start of the series with Club Shadowlands. To Command and Collar deals with a slaving ring and it was difficult to read at times. I came to adore the hero Master Raoul and I thought he was a great match for the heroine. If you’re looking for something to read after Fifty Shades, grab this series. In my opinion it’s a hundred percent better!

I’m about to start reading Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh. Nalini lives in New Zealand, and I love her Psy-Changeling series. I think each book is better than the last, and the plot arc across the series incredible. Her world building is excellent and without fault and so different from anything else that’s out on the market. This is also a series and one that you’ll enjoy more if you start at the beginning. I highly recommend Nalini’s books to anyone who enjoys paranormal romances.

And the third author I’m going to mention is one of my all time favorite historical authors. I’ve been a fan since I read Jess Michael’s story Ancient Secrets in a Secrets anthology. Jess had a recent release from Samhain Publishing called Taken By The Duke, which is sitting on my Kindle ready to read when I get a spare moment. When I read this story I know I’ll get great characters, spicy love scenes and be transported back to Regency times. Win-win for me. J

As I said, I can’t imagine not having a book to hand, and to safeguard against the horror of running out, I have a huge pile. It will be a few years before my stockpile dwindles.

Which books have you read recently that you’d recommend to other romance lovers?

Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand with her husband and a cheeky puppy called Bella. She writes romances for Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. To learn more about Shelley and her books please visit her website at http://www.shelleymunro.com

Writer's Wednesday

WRITER'S WEDNESDAY



Tip of the Day: Don't compare yourself to other writers. Every author writes at a different pace. There will always be someone who writes at a faster or slower pace than you do. The trick is to find what works for you and to do it. If you're constantly comparing yourself to other writers, you'll only discourage yourself, and that's just not helpful.

Writer's Wednesday

People are always asking for writing tips and one of the best I can offer them is to simply sit in your chair (whether at your desk or at a coffee shop or the kitchen table, etc...) and write. There is no substitute for actually writing. The more you write, the more you learn and the better you will become at your craft.

Good luck!